Bracketology Watch: Pitt Needs Statement Win vs Miami

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers' weekend showdown with No. 20 Miami at the Petersen Events Center was already one of the best games in the ACC this weekend. Still, it has bigger stakes, according to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi. He has the Panthers teetering on the edge of NCAA Tournament contention and they can do themselves a big favor by knocking off the Hurricanes at home.
"A loss at home to Miami would drop the feel-good Panthers, currently LAST FOUR IN, out of the projected field," Lunardi said in his pregame write-up.
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) January 28, 2023
The Panthers suffered a poor loss and pulled out a good win during a 1-1 week. Florida State shot the lights out from deep - 10 of 20 from 3-point distance - in a midweek upset of Pitt but the team responded with a record shooting performance - making a program-high 18 triples - in the 81-79 win over Wake Forest.
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Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:
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